You’ve secured one of the best apartments to rent in London, now it’s time to make it your own. By employing a few simple interior design tricks, you can transform your flat into the perfect place to relax and recharge after a busy day. Here are our top tips for creating a personal sanctuary. 

• Embrace a chic colour scheme 

Choose a colour palette to reflect the mood you want to create. Muted greys, whites and beiges create a relaxing elegant space, bold accent colours convey a sense of fun, while deep oranges, browns and greens exude warmth and comfort. Lighter colours will make a space feel bigger and brighter, while darker colours can create a cosy, cocooning effect. Enclave Croydon’s apartments are available to rent in three different colour palettes so choose one that matches your style and accessorize to suit your taste. 

• Select high-quality, flexible furniture 

If you’re renting unfurnished, opt for pieces that blend functionality with style. Think statement sofas, vintage cabinets and handcrafted coffee tables. Caravane in King’s Cross or Oscar Dahling Antiques in Croydon are both great places to start. Paired with a trusty Billy bookcase from IKEA, you can create your own distinct look in no time. Investment pieces can move with you and elevate any space they’re in.  

• Use soft furnishings to add texture, pattern and warmth 

Plush rugs, high-quality linens and sumptuous throw pillows all add personality to your apartment, whatever your taste. Choose styles and colours to fit your interior look and feel – from mono-chromatic patterns and modern fabrics to high-pile Berber rugs and thick woven woollens. Layering fabrics will create an inviting seating area where you can curl up and watch your favourite series. 

• Elevate your home with art and personal touches 

There’s little that will make your rental apartment feel like home more than photographs and objects from your favourite places and experiences. Whether it’s limited edition prints, travel souvenirs or snaps of your friends and family, these pieces spark memories and add character to your space. Try leaning different framed artwork along a shelf for a modern look that can be easily changed and updated. 

• Set the mood with lighting 

Lighting can dramatically change the feel of a room. Add floor and table lamps to create a cosy and convivial atmosphere when alone or while entertaining. Make a statement with a dramatic chandelier or use different fixtures to create distinct living zones – from pendant lights above your dining table to desk lamps in your office space. Visit Tom Dixon’s flagship store in King’s Cross or the Lamp Factory in Croydon for ideas. 

• Add plants to bring your home to life 

Houseplants can instantly improve a space, bringing the outside in with an injection of colour. The benefits are more than aesthetic too – as well as helping to purify the air, numerous studies have found that having living plants in your home can lower stress and improve wellbeing. Create your own miniature kitchen garden by growing herbs and vegetables on your balcony or terrace, or transform your bathroom into a tranquil spa with humidity-loving ferns.  

• Install a mini library 

Books have the power to make a space feel lived in and loved, expressing your personality and interests without breaking the bank. Make your book collection a focal point by displaying them on bookshelves and bedside tables or by selecting hardback illustrative editions as coffee table books. You can even order them by colour instead of author to create a colourful, eye-catching artwork. 

• Create a home office nook 

Got some late-night emails to send? Or don’t fancy venturing out to Enclave’s sleek co-working areas? Create a dedicated work space in your London rental apartment, complete with ergonomic chair, compact desk and luxe stationary. Take advantage of Enclave’s stunning city views and natural light by setting up by a window, add a cork board for your calendars and important reminders, choose minimalist, space-saving storage and voilà! Because sometimes it’s just nice to work in your slippers. 

• Invest in high-quality accessories 

Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference. Turn the functional into the divine with woven laundry baskets, sweet-smelling toiletries — decanted into unique, reusable pump bottles — candles, and premium cotton bath towels and bed linens. These finishing touches can make everyday chores a pleasure and spark joy in the unexpected. We love Marks and Spencer’s Apothecary range and The White Company for simple luxury. 

Enclave provide high-quality London apartments and studios for rent in well-connected locations – King’s Cross and Croydon. Each building has a friendly residence team and an abundance of amenities designed to suit your needs, so you can live, work, relax and socialise as you like. Find out more.